A Promising New Director
Updated: Jun 18, 2019
"I want to offer a unique perception of the world."
Self-made, short-film director, Frank Montero has led a small cast and crew with his new project, titled, And She Spoke. A chilling, cautionary tale published this past Mother’s Day about the importance of handling Mother Earth, as importantly as we would care for own mothers.
I had the chance to speak with Montero moments after his short film release and he spoke of his project with such strong conviction as someone with years of experience in the film industry would. He is furiously passionate about wanting to create thoughtful work, and ignited with hopes that his industrious films will stand up against other mass produced work in the film industry. He is motivated and aspires to have people understand that film remains a vital art form, similar to Theatre, Art, & Dance.
We had a wonderful conversation where I was able to ask him a few questions. Read on, for I will also link his film below!
Tell us about your short film?
"After being approached by an old friend and visual artist, Joanna A., we were both inspired by a dark and "witchy" aesthetic and our passion for filmmaking. We started thinking about what we really loved about Nature. We really wanted to experiment to make people think and feel differently and wonder, "Would you treat your mother the way you treat the Earth?" We wanted to find a way to wake people up, to start paying attention to our Mother Earth. That is our message."
What inspired you?
"I don't know why, but I had a dream before our collaboration, where I was running away from people I knew. I found myself surrounded by the people from the Dakota Pipeline Protest, and I too, was one of the protestors. After seeing all of the footage unfold before me, it really scared the shit out of me. I woke up crying. I knew that I had to talk about the Earth, our mother. I had to help create a bigger picture."
What do you hope people will get out of And She Spoke?
"I really hope they feel something. That they see this project and understand, that yeah, it was a short film, but they can see that it takes a lot of work and so many people were involved. They can see the collaboration and see how we made art happen. I had the chance to work with my brother, Mike. He helped edit and create amazing visuals. I hope to keep this momentum going with future films, because I have so much to say and I want to find the perfect way to express myself."
Your favorite part about working with this project?
"My god! My favorite part was filming! Getting the shot list and making sure I go through all the footage. This is where I got my inspiration, the not knowing and the guessing when things didn't work but making it work. I got to take my time, that's what I love the most. We were inspired by the scenery we filmed at the State Park. We were able to get lost and just film. It was wonderful."
Would you do anything differently?
"I would fly you over! (Haha!) back to Texas to film. That was our missing piece. I've always had a great time (with you), always learning something new and being able to grow as artists together. I really appreciated the dynamic of everyone working together and would have loved to have you on the team.
Some of the best advice I've gotten from a fellow artist was, "Don't be afraid to fail!" I know I'm going to grow from this project."
Are you working on anything new?
"I’ll be doing more theatre for the new year, and do work on scripts on my down time. A script that I'm working on now, is a father and a family estranged from each other. Their whole world is a literal sitcom. The father can actually hear the laughter from the audience, but everyone dismisses it due to his ongoing alcoholism. I'm really inspired by 90s Sitcoms. I know I need a decent budget and the right actors. But I want to bring back that humor back track from the 40s and 50s. I'm trying to understand their odd attraction! Why do people keep tuning back to watch these shows after all these years?"
So I hear you're moving to Chicago, what do you hope your first year will be like?
"My first year, I'll be adjusting to the fast city life, getting used to the train. I’m really looking forward to being next to creatives and being able to meet people who can teach me things. Because I know I can learn how to grow as an artist. I want to get the right experiences, and maybe even meet a cool, Director girlfriend, just doing her own thing! (Haha!)"
And She Spoke | Respect Her
Frank Montero is a 25 year old actor, producer, & filmmaker now residing in Chicago, Illinois. Follow his adventures on IG: @frankmontero4.
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